The RE5 experience

[wayne]

I've just finished rebuilding the carbs on a 1975 GL1000 that I have. I've had it for a couple of years and when I got it, it ran so horribly it was unrideable.

The bikes also have some known issues such as an off-idle hesitation.

I followed the instructions.....replaced seals, cleaned passages, corrected float settings, fitted X jet in Y hole, drilled this jet to that size and put it all back together.

After a quick fiddle with timing, manual sync and tweak of the ignition wiring, once again, all according to instructions, she fired up, idles well, has crisp response and rides nicely. The off-idle hesitation is gone as per the promise of the jet drilling exercise.

Most bikes seem to be like this. Do A, follow with B, inspect X to Z and you're done. The bike behaves.

While I love my RE5's and they remain my favourite rides, they march to the beat of a different drum. Wish they were that easy to perfect.

Still, vive le difference !

[goandy]

Yes indeed. Adjust this, hesitation moves up in rev band. Adjust that, grinding becomes louder. Tweak the other, clutch rattle suddenly becomes an issue. I love a challenge.

Just think of poor Steve here in Perth. Does everything, installs Jess's ignition module, runs better than ever then blows a coolant seal!

[wayne]

Yes, that is cruel, but then again, he's got a rotary mechanic mate...........

Also enjoyed your summary, that's pretty much about how it works !

[mike500]

also with older bikes you can replace a part with a new 1 to make it run better but then a part that was just about working on old set up cant take the sudden increase in power so it fails so you replace that etc etc etc but thats where the challenge and fun is keeping old bikes running